Cigarette snuffer



y 21, 1957 J. F. SMILLIE 2,792,842

CIGARETTE SNUFFER Filed May 31, 1955 INVENTOR. JOHN F. SMILLIE mar- United States Patent C) CIGARETTE SNUFFER John F. Smillie, San Diego, Calif. Application May 31, 1955, Serial No. 512,044 7 Claims. (Cl.131-256) The present invention relates generally to smokers equipment and more particularly to a cigarette snuffer.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a cigarette snuilerhaving a split tube type cigarette receiv-. ing portion which is constructed so that the tube remains closed when a cigarette is forced therein for extinguishing, yet the tube is easily opened with the tip of a finger to release the cigarette.

Another object of this invention is to provide a snuffer having a split cigarette receiving tube which is noncircular in tranverse section and is substantially wider in the plane of separation of the two tubular portions than in a plane at right angles thereto so that a cigarette is not pinched or jammed in the tube and so that the lateral edges of the complementary elements of the tube will not be driven into the cigarette butt, since this must be avoided to assure that the cigarette butt will disengage itself freely when the complementary tube elements are separated to discharge the extinguished cigarette butt from the snufler.

I Another object of this invention is to provide a cigarette snuifer having a scoop portion shaped to deflect the extinguished cigarette into an ash tray beneath the snuffer.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cigarette snuffer which is easily attachable to many surfaces, such as a vehicle instrument panel, a wall or the like.

With these and other objects definitely in view, this invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions, as will be hereinafter fully describedin the specification, particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the drawing which forms a material part of this disclosure and wherein similar characters of reference indicate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the views of the drawing, and in which: i

Fig. l'is a perspective view of the shutter.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig.2. i

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the snulfer.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 showing a slightly modified form of the device.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6. i i

Fig. 8 is a rear elevation view of the snutfer shown in Fig. 6.

Referring now to Figs. 1-5 of the drawing, the snutfer comprises two major parts, a fixed element 10 and a hinged element 12. The fixed element 10 is cast or machined from a solid block of suitablemetal and has a relieved portion 14 in its rear face defining a pair of feet 16 and 13. that the device maybe mounted on a curved surface, such as the vehicle instrument panel 20 shown in dash line in The fixed element 1 0 has inits frontal,

These feet 16 and 18 are shaped so.

face a longitudinal channel 22 substantially right hemicylindrical in form the upper portion 24 of said channel being flared at the upper end of said fixed element. The fixed element 10 has a rearwardly sloping lower portion 26 and the upper portion 28 is similarly sloped rearwardly.

The hinged element 12 is formed from sheet material and comprises a tubular portion 30 substantially arcuate in cross section, the upper end of which is return folded to provide an arcuate flanged rim 32. The lower end of the tubular portion 30 is curved as shown in Figures 1 and 3 to form a scoop portion 33 which extends rearwardly and is shaped to fit closely against the sloping lower portion 26, so that said scoop forms a closure for the lower end of the channel 22. Extending laterally from the longitudinal edges of the tubular portion are shoulders 34 which rest on the edges 36 at either side of the channel 22 and align the hinged element 12 so that said channel and said tubular portion together form a split cigarette receiving tube 38.. It should be noted that the width of the receiving tube 38 is greatest in the plane of separation between the two elements and thus the transverse section is not truly circular, the width being greater than the diameter of a cigarette to ensure that the cigarette will not be pinched or jammed between the abutting surfaces of the shoulders 34 and edges 36. As explained in one of the foregoing objects, the lateral edges of the elements are thus prevented from being driven into the cigarette butt and the extinguished butt disengages easily. Extending rearwardly from the shoulders 34 are wings 40 which straddle the fixed element 10 and have lug portions 42 which project upwardly to the upper end of said fixed element. The hinged element 12 is pivotally attached to the fixed element 10 by means of a pin 44 extending transversely through the lug portions 42 and the upper foot 16, so that the tubular portion 30 can be swung upwardly and forwardly from the channel 22 as shown by the directional arrow in Fig. 3.

The fixed element 14 may be partially or entirely magnetic to facilitate quick attachment to many surfaces. For more permanent attachment, however, a bore 46 is provided through the foot 16 to receive a screw or the like.

In use, the device is attached to a convenient surface, preferably above an ash tray, and a cigarette 48 to be extinguished is inserted downwardly into the receiving tube 38, as shown in dot-dash line in Fig. 3. The lower end of the cigarette 48 bears against the inner surface of the scoop portion 33 near its junction with the tubular portion 30. It is extremely important that this point: of contact is well below the pivot pin 44 and the pressure does not tend to force the hinged element forwardly to any great extent but, as fully proven in practice, thenormal pressure used in extinguishing a cigarette'tends to hold the hinged element 12 closed so that the periphcry of the lighted portion is in contact with the inside of the receiving tube 38, and the heat is conducted away rapidly to snuff the cigarette. An ancillary advantage of this arrangement of elements is that the cigarette snubbed in this device cannot be inadvertently pushed through without being extinguished. In other words, the minor transverse axis of the oval tube must approximate the diameter of a cigarette, and the curvature of the portion 33 must be such that a butt cannot be free to be placed in the extinguisher so that it may have an eccentricity such that it would be possible to press it in a generally downward direction such that a horizontal component of force can be produced having sufficient magnitude to separate the portions of the tube. Similarly, the angle which the portion 33 makes with the longitudinal axis of the tube must be such that vertically downward pressure' thereon will produce a counter-clockwise moment about the pivot pin 44 as seen in Fig. 3, so that such pressure will cause the movable portion of the tube to tend to move so as to maintain a closed tube. Furthermore, due to this unique arrangement of structure no biasing means is necessary to close the hinged element 12, gravity being sulficient. However, magnetism of the fixed element may be used to hold the hinged element 12 closed and serves to prevent the element from rattling, being similar in action to the spring 74 described hereinafter, this being important especially when the device is used in a vehicle.

To dump the extinguished cigarette, the hinged cle ment 12 is lifted by a finger tip under the flanged rim 32, asshown in dashed lines in Fig. 3. The scoop portion 33 effectively deflects the cigarette rearwardly into a convenient ash tray placed below the snuifer. in this respect it should be noted that the snufier is ideally suited for mounting on the instrument panel of a vehicle immediately above conventionally provided ash receptacles.

A slightly modified form of the device is shown in Figs. 68 in which the fixed element 50 is formed from sheet material while the hinged element 52 incorporates only a minor change. The fixed element has a longitudinal channel portion 54 corresponding to the channel 22, the upper end of said channel portion being flared as at 56. At each side of the channel portion 54 is a longitudinal front face 58 and extending rearwardly from these faces are the sides 60 of the fixed element 54 At the upper end of each side 60 is a rearwardly projecting foot 62 and the rear edges 64 of said sides are slightly concave so that the device can be mounted firmly on a curved surface. The fixed element 50 has a sloping lower end 66 against which the scoop portion 33 bears.

The hinged element 52 is pivotally attached to the fixed element 50 by a pin 68 passing through the feet 62 and lug portions 42. The hinged element 52 diifers from the element 12 in only that there are inwardly projecting tabs 70 at the lower rear edges of the lug portions 42. These tabs 70 project through arcuate slots 72 in the sides 60, said slots extending forwardly from the lower rear edges of the feet 62. To prevent the hinged element 52 from rattling a torsion spring 74 is wound around the pin 68, said spring having a central loop portion 76 which bears against the flared portion 56 and downwardly extending ends 78 which engage the tabs 70. The loop portion 76 presses the flared portion 56 toward the tubular portion 30. In closed position the shoulders 34- rest against the front faces 58 so that the tubular portion 30 and channel portion 54 together form a receiving tube 80, which is non-circular in transverse section for the reasons explained in connection with the tube 38. The cigarette 48 is illustrated in dotdash line in Fig. 7 also to show the relative dimensions of the cigarette and the receiving tube 80. The arrange ment and function of the modified snutfer are similar to that previously described.

A screw hole 82 in the flared portion 56 permits insertion of a screw for permanent attachment of the snutfer.

It is understood that minor variations from the forms of the invention disclosed herein may be made without departure from the scope ad spirit of the invention, and that the specification and drawing are to be considered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

I claim:

1. A cigarette snuffer, comprising: a fixed element having a transversely arcuate, generally vertical, substantially right hemicylindrical elongated channel therein; a hinged element having a transversely tubular arcuate portion; said hinged element having pivot means whereby it is pivotally attached at its upper end to said fixed element for movement upwardly and forwardly therefrom and said hinged element being disposed with said tubular portion confronting said channel on a general plane of separation and defining therewith a cigarette receiving tube; the receiving tube being substantially wider in the general plane of separation of said elements than in a plane normal to the first mentioned plane; vsaid fixed .element having a sloping lower end; a rearwardly curved scoop portion extending from the lower end of said tubular portion and shaped to rest against said sloping end covering the end of said channel said pivot means being disposed on a side of said tube remote from said hinged element so as to enable said curved scoop portion to bias said hinged element toward:said fixed element when a cigarette is pressed into the receiving tube; and said pivot means being disposed on the side of said tube remote from said hinged element.

2. A cigarette snufier, comprising: a fixed element having a transversely, generally vertical, substantially right hemicylindrical elongated channel therein; a hinged element having a transversely tubular arcuate portion; said hinged element having pivot means whereby it is pivotally attached at its upper end to said fixed element for movement upwardly and forwardly therefrom and said hinged element being disposed with said tubular .portion confronting said channel on a general plane of separation and defining therewith a cigarette receiving tube; the receiving tube being substantially wider in the general plane of separation of said elements than in a plane normal to the first mentioned plane; said fixed element having a sloping lower end; a rearwardly curved scoop portion extending from the lower end of said tu bular portion and shaped to rest against said sloping end covering the end of said channel; said pivot means being disposed on a side of said tube remote from said hinged element so as to enable said curved scoop portion to bias said hinged element toward said fixed element when a cigarette is pressed into the receiving tube said pivot means being disposed on the side of said tube remote from said hinged element; the upper end of said tubular portion having a return folded rim extending forwardly therefrom.

3. A cigarette snuffer, comprising: a fixed element having a transversely, generally vertical, substantially right hemicylindrical elongated channel therein; a hinged element having a transversely tubular arcuate portion; said hinged element having pivot means whereby it is pivotally attached at its upper end to said fixed element for movement upwardly and forwardly therefrom and said hinge element being disposed with said tubular portion confronting said channel on a general plane of separation and defining therewith a cigarette receiving tube; the receiving tube being substantially wider in the general plane of separation of said elements than in a plane normal to the first mentioned plane; said fixed element having a sloping lower end; a rearwardly curved scoop portion extending from the lower end of said tubular portion and shaped to rest against said sloping end covering the end of said channel; said pivot means being disposed on a side of said tube remote from said hinged element so as to enable said curved scoop portion to bias said hinged element toward said fixed element when a cigarette is pressed into the receiving tube said pivot means disposed on the side of said tube remote from said hinged element; and means for biasing said hinged portion against said fixed portion.

4. A cigarette snuffer, comprising: a fixed element having a transversely, generally vertical, substantially right hemicyclindrical elongated channel therein; a hinged element having a transversely tubular arcuate portion; wings extending from the longitudinal edges of said tubular portion and spaced to straddle said fixed element; the upper ends of said wings being pivotally attached to said fixed element; said tubular portion being in registry with said channel on a general plane of separation to define a cigarette receiving tube between the elements; the receiving tube being substantially wider in the general plane of separation of said elements than in a plane normal to the first mentioned plane; said fixed element having a sloping lower end; a rearwardly curved scoop portion extending from the lower end of said tubular portion and shaped to rest against said sloping end covering greases the end of said channel said pivot means being disposed on a side of said tube remote from said hinged element so as to enable said curved scoop portion to bias said hinged element toward said fixed element when a cigarette is pressed into the receiving tube; said pivot means being disposed on the side of said tube remote from said hinged element.

5. A cigarette snufier, comprising: a fixed element having a transversely, generally vertical, substantially right hemicylindrical elongated channel therein; a hinged element having a transversely tubular arcuate portion; wings extending from the longitudinal edges of said tubular portion and spaced to straddle said fixed element; the upper ends of said wings being pivotally attached to said fixed element; said tubular portion being in confronting relation with said channel on a general plane of separation to define a cigarette receiving tube between the elements; the receiving tube being substantially wider in the general plane of separation of said elements than in a plane normal to the first mentioned plane; said fixed element having a sloping lower end; a rearwardly curved scoop portion extending from the lower end of said tubular portion and shaped to rest against said sloping end covering the end of said channel; said pivot means being disposed on a side of said tube remote from said hinged element so as to enable said curved scoop portion to bias said hinged element toward said fixed element when a cigarette is pressed into the receiving tube said pivot means being disposed on the side of said tube remote from said hinged element; the upper end of said tubular portion having a return folded rim extending forwardly therefrom and constituting a finger hold; and means for biasing said hinged element against said fixed element.

6. A cigarette snutfer, comprising: an upright fixed element having a substantially right hemicylindrical, vertical channel in the forward face thereof; said fixed element having a rearwardly sloping lower end; a hinged element having a longitudinally extending, transversely arcuate tubular portion; a pair of parallel wings extending from the longitudinal edges of said tubular portion and spaced to straddle said fixed element; said wings having upwardly extending lug portions; said lug portions having pivot means whereby they are pivotally attached for movement of said hinged element upwardly and forwardly from said fixed element; said tubular portion being in confronting relation with said channel on a general plane of separation to define therewith a cigarette receiving tube between the elements; the receiving tube being substantially wider in the general plane of separation of said elements than in a plane normal to the first mentioned plane; a curved scoop portion extending rearwardly from the lower end of said tubular portion and shaped to engage said sloping end and to cover the end of said channel said pivot means being disposed on a side of said tube remote from said hinged element so as to enable said curved scoop portion to bias said hinged element toward said fixed element when a cigarette is pressed into the receiving tube; and said pivot means being disposed on the side of said tube remote from said hinged element.

7. A cigarette snufier, comprising: an upright fixed element having a substantially right hemicylindrical, vertical channel in the forward face thereof; said fixed element having a rearwardly sloping lower end; a hinged element having a longitudinally extending transversely arcuate tubular portion; a pair of parallel wings extending from the longitudinal edges of said tubular portion and spaced to straddle said fixed element; said wings having upwardly extending lug portions; said lug portions having pivot means whereby they are pivotally at tached for movement of said hinged element upwardly and forwardly from said fixed element; said tubular portion confronting said channel on a general plane of separation to define therewith a cigarette receiving tube between the elements; the receiving tube being substantially wider in the general plane of separation of said elements than in a plane normal to the first mentioned plane; a. curved scoop portion extending rearwardly from the lower end of said tubular portion and shaped to engage said sloping end and to cover the end of said channel; said pivot means being disposed on a side of said tube remote from said hinged element so as to enable said curved scoop portion to bias said hinged element toward said fixed element when a cigarette is pressed into the receiving tube said pivot means being disposed on the side of said tube remote from said hinged element; the upper end of said tubular portion having a forwardly extending rim thereon; and means for securing the fixed element to a support.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,759,925 Van Gelderin May 27, 1930 2,098,337 Edwards Nov. 9, 1937 2,311,926 Brand Feb. 23, 1943 2,639,718 Leong May 26, 1953 2,644,463 Wheelock July 7, 1953 FQREIGN PATENTS 312,558 Great Britain May 30, 1929 467,629 Great Britain June 21, 1937 1,016,064 France Oct. 31, 1952 

